The Lecythidaceae ( LESS-ith-ih-DAY-see) comprise a family of about 30 genera and 250–300 species of woody plants native to tropical South America, Africa (including Madagascar), Asia and Australia.
Well known members of the family include the cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis) and the edible Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa).
According to molecular analysis of Lecythidaceae, including work by Mori et al. (2007), subfamilies include:
Previously Barringtoniaceae; also sensu Takhtajan 1997; this subfamily was also called Planchonioideae (which included Barringtonia). Genera are restricted to the Old World tropics.
